America's 'weaponised philanthropy'

For two people who have never held elected office, billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, are without a doubt the most influential people in American politics. Their vast network of political influence groups has been called ‘the Kochtopus’ –it’s been promoting their radical libertarian agenda for the last few decades.

But although they are shaping American life at every level, few ordinary Americans know their names. They go to great lengths to keep their work secret.

Jane Mayer has written a highly celebrated work of investigative journalism, it’s a story which takes in the Koch family – as well as a group of their staggeringly wealthy friends. It’s a story that the Kochs didn’t want told, they hired investigators to dig up dirt on Mayer. But she persisted, and her dogged investigation has unravelled more of their shadowy world than has ever been known before.

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Comments (4)

Harvey Wireman :

18 Jun 2016 5:56:39am

Those evil Koch Bros, what a shame (for you people) they haven't bought Donald Trump. George Soros, on the other hand, is a sweet, kindly, old benevolent billionaire who never harmed a fly, apart from funding all manner of left wing hate groups including Moveon.org, Black Lives Matter, and...oh, Hillary Clinton.

iain russell :

18 Jun 2016 9:30:37am

'Shadowy'? I don't think so. The Koch brothers have been targeted by the mush minded Left since forever. That no 'smoking gun' has ever been found indicates either their legitimacy as players against Big Gumment, or the continuing pathetic failures of Gramsci-oriented Leftard numpties. They don't like Trump, by the bye.

timbo59 :

18 Jun 2016 9:46:13am

Well, it would seem that the only people who remain blissfully unaware of the Koch brothers and their pervasive influence on American politics are Australian journalists. As an ex-pat who's lived in the USA for the last 16 years, I can state quite unequivocally that the Koch duo, far from being secretive unknowns burrowing away at the fabric of American life, garner considerable attention from the American media. I've read numerous articles about the brothers over the years and their views and aims are fairly well known.

Not only can these tactics grid lock and hollow out government and democracy through creating 'wedge' issues like EU referendum, those responsible for the repetitive messaging come to speak the same language .... often with a strong whiff of bigotry.....